Framework for Distributed Network Simulation and State Propagation

In this paper, we focus on the simulation element of a hybrid client-server and authority-driven peer-to-peer MMOG framework currently in development, created in Java and utilising the ns-3 network simulator through a native interface, with some discussion of the overall framework. The framework is intended eventually for use in the development of networked multiplayer games and will aid in respecting bandwidth, fairness and security requirements while reducing the complexity of programming, while facilitating hierarchical state propagation in large-scale game systems. Our simulation component is implemented to facilitate the development of this system by removing the need for network nodes to be represented by real hardware, allowing the developer to actively visualise the system performance in real-time network application, or collect information for applications running in discrete time. For real-time applications we mimic the Java networking API and use existing network frameworks, requiring few modifications to existing Java applications to port them to our system.